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Monday, May 28, 2012

Smoky Baba Ghanoush with Roasted Garlic

Last night we pulled out the grill and dusted it off for the first time this season to roast some eggplant for making baba ghanoush. However, the propane tank was empty, so I decided to try grilling the eggplant directly over a gas stove flame instead. It worked like a charm, infusing a deep smokiness into the eggplant, which I enhanced a bit further by adding in some liquid smoke as well as a sprinkle of smoked paprika. This version of baba ghanoush is tahini-heavy and spiked with caramelized garlic oil with rich strands of roasted garlic throughout. It tastes amazing straight out of the food processor, but if you can wait a day or two for the flavors to really mingle, it becomes an even more richly complex yet delicately textured spread.

METHOD
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Separate the cloves of garlic, but do not peel them. Place in a small glass pyrex dish and drizzle with the olive oil. Cover with foil and place in the oven to roast until caramelized and tender (anywhere from 30 minutes to 45 minutes).

Slice the top off of each of the eggplants and discard. Using an open gas flame, set the flame/heat level to medium and place one of the eggplants directly over that with heat-resistant tongs. Leave it there for 2-3 minutes—then turn to another side to char for 2-3 minutes more. Repeat this until all sides are charred. By this time, the eggplant will start to sputter slightly, but keep turning until the entire skin is completely charred and wrinkled. (It should take 13-15 minutes to achieve a good char all over.)

Place the eggplant on some absorbent towels to slightly drain while you prepare the second eggplant. When both eggplants are done, you can half them and scoop/scrape out the insides with a spoon, then discard the skins. Place the eggplant into a small food processor.

By this time, your garlic should be almost ready. Remove from the oven and remove the cloves to cool. Pour the rich and garlicky leftover oil into the food processor with the eggplant. Once the garlic is cooled, add it to the food processor, along with the next four ingredients. Blend until smooth.

You can either serve immediately or refrigerate for a day or two before serving.

This looks just incredible. There is a Lebanese restaurant here in San Diego that makes the most incredible baba ghanouj on a sajj oven... it has this smoky char to it that I've never tasted anywhere else. This might well give them a run for the money. :)